That was all I wanted.

I was too scared to believe, though.

Jake started the car and backed it up before pulling onto the road again. His apartment was in the opposite direction.

“Where are we going?” Even my voice was barely above a whisper, and I thought it held yearning, too.

“Where do you think?”

I knew. I didn’t have to ask anymore.

When he pulled up to the same door I’d left moments earlier, he let out a pocket of air. “I’m sorry for being angry before. I’m sorry for accidentally letting Susan know where you were. But for this,” he gestured to the hotel, “I’m not sorry for bringing you back. Go get your guy.” He patted my leg. “Go get your happy.”

I woke up because the bed was empty, and then I heard the door shut. I knew it was bad even before I rose out of bed.

Judging from the clothes on the floor, she left in a hurry. No note had been left in the suite. I called Laura and my lawyers, but no one knew anything. No one saw her, and Jordan hadn’t texted me. I felt it in my gut. She was gone.

I was changing to go look for her when I saw my wallet on the windowsill. I went to grab it, and that’s when I saw him. Jake Monroe. He was in the driver’s seat of his car, and he was driving away. I caught a glimpse before his car turned the corner.

My hand fisted the window curtain. Fuck this. If he had called her—No. I shook my head and closed my eyes tight.

If he called her, that was on her. She decided to answer the call. She decided to leave my bed, to go to him. That was on Jordan. I couldn’t fault him.

Shit, I waited two years in prison for her. I had so many reasons to leave her alone, but I hadn’t. I should’ve, and I still should, but I wasn’t going to. With that, I knew my decision had been made.

Fuck me if I was looking like an idiot in love, but that was what I was.

I loved her.

And I never told her.

I gritted my teeth. I’d told her I had feelings. I shook my head and started for the door. I was going to go after her. I was bringing the phone up to my ear. Cal could use the tracker to find her, but my door opened then. My sister walked inside.

Seeing the smug look in her eyes and the smirk on her face, it clicked. This was her. Whatever it was, whatever had been said, I knew Felicia had something to do with Jordan leaving.

I gutted out, “You did that, didn’t you?”

“Hell to the fucking yeah.” She raised her head. She wasn’t even going to deny it. She was gloating.

“You bitch.”

She lifted a cold shoulder. “In my defense, it wasn’t like I came in here, looking for her. I wanted to order some food and booze off of you, but there she was. When I came around the corner, she was lined up, ready to come and meet me.” A dimple showed in her cheek. “I couldn’t help myself.”

Fuck.

She eyed me. “She swallowed it, hook, line, and sinker. Maybe I saved you from her. Maybe I’m actually being a nice sister?”

“You’re delusional.”

“Meh.” She lifted her other shoulder and headed for the kitchen. “Life could be worse. Think of what you have in your future. Daddy called me this morning. He said your proposal for the building for the foster kids was approved. Congratulations. That’s good news, right?” She called from the kitchen, “You’re acting like your cat just died.”

“Felicia.” My teeth were permanently grinding against each other now. “Get out of my suite.”

“Relax.” She came back around the corner, her arms filled with food that I’d ordered for Jordan the night before—food that we never got around to eating.

I was raging inside, but this was Felicia. This was how she was and had been since the court case. “What did you say to her?”

“Nothing.” She moved for the door. So did I.

I blocked her. “Felicia.”

She backed up a step and readjusted her hold on the food. “Kian.”

I was done. “I’m sorry your boyfriend hurt you. I’m sorry he forced himself on you and that someone you loved hurt you in the worst possible way.”

She flinched, looking away.

I kept going, “I’m sorry our parents did nothing to stand up for you.”

Her eyes closed, and her chest lifted, holding there. Her teeth sank down into her lip.

“I’m sorry I went away to prison. I really am.” I did mean all of that, but I was done with her. “But please stop hurting me back. You need to tell me whatever you said to her.”

“Why?” Her face scrunched in confusion. “It’s not like you love the girl. You want her to help with the press for the new foster care building. I get it. That’s why you’re here. Seriously though, Kian, whatever this little obsession you have with her, you need to drop it. Mom and Dad aren’t amused.”

“Mom and Dad have no say in it.”

And it wasn’t an obsession. It was love. The more I felt it slipping away, the more I realized how real and overwhelming it was. I loved Jordan with almost everything inside me.

Felicia rolled her eyes, moving around me for the door. She started to open it, and—

Fuck it.

I was there in one second and slammed it shut.

She fell back a step, her eyes wide, as she could only gape up at me. “Wha—” she started.

I growled over her, “What did you say to her?”

“Kian?” She didn’t look away from me. She wouldn’t dare.

“I mean it. I’ve let you come here. I’ve let you charge all your alcohol, hotel movies, food, clothing, whatever you wanted on my credit card. Fine. I figured I owe you.

“I wasn’t there for you, not when you needed me, and then I got locked up. You started sleeping with my lawyer, and I’d had enough. You come back here now, and what? She hasn’t left me since I got out, and you were able to send her away after one conversation. What did you say, Felicia?”

Her bottom lip started to tremble before she snapped back, “I did you a favor. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed sticking a knife in her chest and turning it around. The girl was acting like she was in love with you, which is ridiculous. You’ll thank me for running her off one day. Trust me.” She reached for the door.

I moved her back. “Felicia.” I gave her one more warning growl.

“Okay. You’re crazy, you know that? It’s like you—” She stopped as understanding dawned in her depths. A light switched on, and her mouth fell open again. “Oh my God, you love her, don’t you?”

My eyes narrowed to slits. “If you don’t start talking—”

She waved that off. “What, Kian? Are you going to hurt me? I’m sorry. You think you’re the baddest piece of shit around, but I’ve got you beat by a long shot. You might huff and make a call to throw your weight around, but that’s all you’ll do.” Her voice gentled. “I know you’ll never hurt me. You never have. I didn’t know that you loved her. I thought you were only here to…I don’t know…get her help with the foster care building. I knew you wanted her to help with the planning and promotions for it. I’m sorry. It’s not much, but for what it’s worth, I am sorry.”

A headache was forming. She still hadn’t told me. “Felicia!”

“I lied to her. I said you hadn’t been accepted back into the company, and you needed her to make the hail of all Hail Marys, proclaiming how great of a guy you were to change the investors’ minds.”

“You did what?”

“I know. I know. I’m sorry.”

“I’m already in.”

“I know, but she didn’t know that. Neither does the public. And…” She grimaced, looking away, before saying, “I knew Daddy texted you. I told her the code to get in your phone, and…”

I closed my eyes. Jordan would’ve needed to know if it was true, if I was using her or not. She would’ve looked, and she would’ve put two and two together but formed the wrong ending.